Casing for lighter and lighter comprising the casing

ABSTRACT

A casing for lighters comprises a first housing (7) for the lighter (2) having an upper opening (8) for the insertion thereof, means (9) for detecting the activation of the valve means (4) housed in the first housing (7) and having an emitter (12) adapted to generate a visual and/or audible signal upon a pressure of the pushbutton (5) of the lighter. The detecting means (9) comprise a normally open electric circuit (20) operatively associated with the emitter (12) and having contact terminals (21) arranged at the upper open edge (8) of the first housing (7) to be closed upon the contact with the user&#39;s finger at the pressure of the pushbutton (5) or upon the contact with the pushbutton (5).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention finds its application into the technical field of ignition devices and it particularly relates with a casing for lighters and with a lighter comprising the casing.

STATE OF THE ART

As known, ordinary lighters include a fuel reservoir for a fluid with a fluid dispensing valve and a pushbutton that promotes fluid exit.

The pushbutton is also usually associated with a mechanism that, while pushing the button, produces a spark which causes the the fluid to burn.

Since for commercial reasons these lighters need to have a cost as lower as possible, no special security systems are provided, i.e. for alerting the user in the event of accidental fluid leakage.

By contrast, the dispensing valve is usually designed in such a manner that the fluid can be continuously supplied when the pushbutton is held down.

On the market there are also casings suitable to house a lighter thereinside in a removable manner, allowing the use of a lighter without it being necessary to remove it.

However, these known casings have only aesthetic function since common lighters are usually made of low-grade materials, such as common plastics.

CA2329890 describes a lighter equipped with a casing housing a circuit designed to emit a noise at the time of ignition of the flame. In particular, circuit activation is produced by a piezoelectric element located between the base of the lighter and the noise generating device inserted inside a casing, so that the pressure applied to the lighter to promote the dispensing of the gas and the ignition of the flame also causes the sliding of the lighter and its contact with the piezoelectric element.

This configuration is unreliable because the sliding of the lighter may not be enough to operate the piezoelectric element.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a casing for lighters which is particularly effective and economic.

A particular object is to provide a casing for lighters adapted to emit a warning when the dispensing valve of the fuel inside the lighter is dispensing the fluid, so as to guarantee high safety against accidental leakage.

Another object is to provide a casing for lighters that can be used effectively with most lighters on the market.

Yet another object is to provide a casing for lighters that can be effectively used with most commercially available lighters as well as a lighter with such a casing that has high reliability with regard the operation of the device designed to emit the warning.

Such objects, as well as others that will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a casing for lighters which, according to claim 1, comprises a first housing for the lighter having an upper open edge for insertion thereof, means for detecting the activation of said valve means housed in said first housing and having an emitter designed to generate a visual and/or audible signal when the pushbutton is pressed.

The detection means comprise a normally open electric circuit operatively associated with said emitter and having contact terminals located at said upper open edge of said first housing to be closed following the contact with the user's finger at the pressure of the pushbutton or after contact with the pushbutton.

In this way, the activation of the signal will also occur with a minimum sliding of the lighter inside the casing, as it will be sufficient to perform the common trigger movement with the finger and bring the finger or the pushbutton in contact with the contact terminals of the circuit so as to determine the closure thereof.

In addition, the accidental sliding of the lighter inside the first housing, or an accidental pressure of the pushbutton, will generate an immediate warning to the user.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a lighter according to claim 10.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are obtained according to the dependent claims.

BRIEF DISCLOSURE OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent in the light of the detailed description of some preferred but non-limiting embodiments of the casing and of the lighter according to the present invention, described and illustrated by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the casing according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the casing of FIG. 1 wherein the inner elements are made visible;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the casing of FIG. 1 provided with a lighter in rest position;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the casing of FIG. 1 provided with a lighter in operative position;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a detail of the lighter of the invention.

BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to the figures, a preferred but not exclusive form of a casing for lighters according to the invention is illustrated.

The casing may be used with the most common lighters used for cigarette smoking or similar smoking items, such as gift items, either disposable or rechargeable.

To this end, it is evident that the casing may be designed and sized in various ways to fit with the shape of the most commonly available lighters on the market.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplifying but not limitative embodiment of the casing, generally indicated by 1, inside which there is incorporated a common lighter 2 having, in a known manner, a reservoir 3 for a fuel fluid, generally propane, butane or mixtures thereof such as LPG or other flammable liquids, valve means 4 for dispensing the fluid having a pushbutton 5 for dispensing a jet of the fuel fluid and ignition means of the fluid jet.

In an exemplary manner, the ignition means may comprise a knurled wheel 6 adapted to be rotated at the same time of the pressure of the pushbutton 5 to operate against a small flint stone, not shown in the figures, to generate the ignition spark of the jet, or they may comprise a piezoelectric device of a known type.

However, further types of ignition means may be provided other than those described above, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

As can be more clearly seen from FIG. 2, the casing 1 comprises a first housing 7 which will have a substantially complementary shape to that of the reservoir 3.

In particular, as visible from FIG. 3, the first housing 7 will be sized to substantially fit at least the reservoir 3 of the lighter 2 and will have an upper open edge 8 for the insertion and extraction thereof.

The first housing 7 will have a width w substantially close to the width w′ of the reservoir 3 or slightly higher to allow the sliding of the lighter 2 along its longitudinal axis L without allowing it to rotate appreciably with respect to the same axis L.

In addition, the height h of the first housing 7 and the height h′ of the lighter 2 will be such that the valve means 4 and in particular the pushbutton 5 will protrude outside the first housing 7 to allow the user to access the pushbutton 5 and allow the pressure thereof to cause the flame to ignite.

In this way, the pressure exerted on the pushbutton 5 will cause a minimal longitudinal sliding of the lighter 2 inside the first housing 7, which will instead be kept locked by the user grab.

The first housing 7 will comprise means 9 for detecting the movement of the lighter 2 inside it which will be adapted to generate a visual and/or audible signal as a result of the activation of the pushbutton 5 which may also produce a predetermined minimum shift of the lighter 2, as visible from FIG. 4.

According to the preferred but not exclusive configuration of the figures, the detection means 9 comprises an emitter 12 of the visual and/or audible signal located within a second housing 15 and having a generator 16 of an audio signal that will emit the audio signal upon the activation of the detection means 9.

The emitter 12 may be designed to generate only an audible signal, only a visual signal, or both.

The signal generator 16 may be programmed to emit a single sound or sound pattern or it may comprise a programmable memory card 17 for inserting a customizable audio signal.

Moreover, the second housing 15 will be provided with one or more openings 18 for emitting the audio signal.

According to a not shown variant, the emitter 12 may comprise a warning light associated with the outer wall 19 of the casing 1 and adapted to emit a visual signal as a result of the activation of the detection means 9.

According to the preferred configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the detection means 9 comprise an electrical circuit 20 connected to the emitter 12 and that is open in the rest condition, to be closed only when the lighter 2 is actuated.

In particular, the electrical circuit 20 will be arranged on the casing in such a manner to have two contact terminals 21 arranged at the upper open edge 8 so as to cause the circuit to be closed due to the finger contact with the terminals together with the ignition movement with which the finger operates on the pushbutton 5.

In addition, the pushbutton 5 may also have on its lower face 22, opposite the upper face 24 on which the finger will act and facing the upper open edge 8 of the casing 1, at least one electrical contact 23 which is adapted to be brought into contact with the terminals 21 of the electrical circuit 20 for closing following the pressure of the pushbutton 5.

In this way, the activation of the emitter 12 may be operated either by the finger or through the pushbutton 5.

This configuration will also have the advantage of alerting the user for any unintentional operation of the pushbutton 5, for example when the lighter is stored in a pocket or purse, which could cause leakage of the fluid into the reservoir 3.

According to still another variant, also not illustrated, the emitter 12 may be associated with an accelerometer or similar device integrated in the casing 1 and adapted to detect an oscillation movement of the casing 1. In this way the activation of the emitter 12 may be obtained simply by shaking the casing 1.

The electrical powering of the various components may be obtained by batteries or similar accumulators, either disposable or rechargeable, arranged for example in the second housing 15 or in a special compartment, also providing a port for connecting a charger.

According to an alternative embodiment, the detection means 9 comprises an actuator 10 located on the bottom wall 11 of the first housing 7 and connected to the emitter 12 of the visual and/or audible signal.

The actuator 10 is further provided with a pressure switch 13 which can be actuated by the bottom wall 14 of the lighter 2 as a result of the sliding thereof promoted by the pressure of the pushbutton 5.

The switch 13 will be designed to return to the rest position once the pressure on the pushbutton 5 of the lighter 2 will be interrupted, so that the lighter may also be pushed to the starting rest position.

The emitter 12 may be designed to generate only an audible signal, only a visual signal, or both. In this latter case, the actuator 10 may comprise a single switch 13 adapted to simultaneously activate both the two signals or comprise two separate switches.

According to a further embodiment, not illustrated, the lighter may have the classic configuration for use in the kitchen, that is, with a lower portion containing the reservoir and provided with the ignition pushbutton and an elongated body for the gas delivery having at its end the ignition device adapted to cause the spark to ignite the flame.

In this case, the lower portion may house the emitter that will be connected via an electrical circuit normally open to the pushbutton so that the pressure of the pushbutton will cause the circuit to be closed and the emitter to be activated to generate the audible and/or visible signal. From above it is apparent that the casing and the lighter according to the invention reach the intended objects.

The casing and the lighter according to the invention are subject to numerous modifications and variations, all of which fall within the inventive concept as set forth in the appended claims. All details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials may be different according to the needs without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Although the casing and the lighter have been disclosed with particular reference to the attached figures, the reference numbers of the description and claims are used to improve the intelligence of the invention and do not constitute any limitation to the claimed scope of protection. 

1. A casing for lighters, wherein a lighter (2) comprises a reservoir (3) for a fuel fluid and valve means (4) provided with a pushbutton (5) for dispensing the fluid, which casing (1) comprises: a first housing (7) for the lighter (2) having an upper opening (8) for the insertion thereof; means (9) for detecting the activation of said valve means (4) housed in said first housing (7) and having an emitter (12) adapted to generate a visual and/or audible signal upon a pressure of the pushbutton (5). characterized in that said detecting means (9) comprise a normally open electric circuit (20) operatively associated with said emitter (12) and having contact terminals (21) arranged at said upper open edge (8) of said first housing (7) to be closed upon the contact with the user's finger at the pressure of the pushbutton (5) or upon the contact with the pushbutton (5).
 2. Casing as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said emitter (12) comprises a generator (16) of an audio signal having a programmable memory board (17) for the insertion of a customizable audio signal.
 3. Casing as claimed in claim 2, characterized by comprising a second housing (15) for said emitter (12) arranged below said first housing (7).
 4. Casing as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said second housing (15) has one or more openings (18) for the output of the audio signal.
 5. Casing as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said emitter (12) comprises a light associated with the outer wall (19) of said casing (1).
 6. Casing as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said detecting means (9) comprise an actuator (10) associated with one of its inner wall and connected to said emitter (12).
 7. Casing as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said actuator (10) is positioned on the bottom wall (11) of said first housing (7) to be actuated following the sliding of the lighter (2) promoted by the pressure of the pushbutton (5).
 8. Casing as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said actuator (10) comprises a pressure switch (13).
 9. Casing as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that said detection means (9) comprise an accelerometer integrated in said first housing (7) or said second housing (15) and adapted to detect a swing movement of the housing and to activate said emitter accordingly (12).
 10. A lighter comprising: a reservoir (3) for a fuel fluid; valve means (4) for dispensing the fluid having a pushbutton (5) for dispensing a jet of said fuel fluid; ignition means (6) of the fluid jet; a casing (1) provided with a first housing (7) suitable to fit or to define said reservoir (3), said first housing (7) being sized to maintain said valve means (4) accessible from the outside; characterized in that said detecting means (9) comprise a normally open electric circuit (20) operatively associated with said emitter (12) and having contact terminals (21) adapted to be closed upon the pressure of said pushbutton (5) or upon the contact with said pushbutton (5).
 11. Lighter as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that said first housing (7) is adapted to snugly fit said reservoir (3) and comprises an upper open edge (8) for inserting said reservoir (3).
 12. Lighter as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that said electrical circuit (20) has contact terminals (21) located at said upper open edge (8) of said first housing (7) to be closed following the contact with the user's finger upon the pressure of said pushbutton (5) or after contact with said pushbutton (5).
 13. Lighter as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that said pushbutton (5) has an upper face (24) facing upwards during use, and a lower face (22) facing said upper open edge (8) of said casing (1) and provided with at least one electrical contact (23) adapted to be brought into contact with said terminals (21) of said electrical circuit (20) for closing it upon the pressure of said pushbutton (5).
 14. Lighter as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that said first housing (7) comprises means (9) for detecting the movement of said reservoir (3) thereinside, said detection means (9) being adapted to generate a visual and/or audible signal in the case of a predetermined minimum displacement of said reservoir (3) within said first housing (7). 